Revolutionary advances in laser surgery have enabled physicians to safely and effectively eliminate a number of skin conditions such as wrinkles, scars, excessive body hair, birthmarks, tattoos, and facial and leg veins.

Lasers Offer Many Options to Improve Appearance

March 15, 2000 (San Francisco) -- Lasers have taken center stage here at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, where dermatologists from the world are gathering to discuss the latest medical and cosmetic advances in skin care.

Revolutionary advances in laser surgery have enabled physicians to safely and effectively eliminate a number of skin conditions such as wrinkles, scars, excessive body hair, birthmarks, tattoos, and facial and leg veins. Today's laser procedures produce fewer side effects and offer shorter recovery times than earlier lasers. In addition, recent improvements in laser technology have resulted in more successful outcomes in fair-skinned patients as well as darker skin types.

Described by some experts as "magic bullets of bright light," lasers work by generating heat that tightens the skin. The result is a more uniform, smooth appearance. While laser surgery is generally not painful, patients may experience mild discomfort afterwards.

The best candidates for laser treatments are those with skin that has been damaged by too much exposure to sunlight, according to dermatologist Arielle N.B. Kauvar, MD. "Most wrinkles around the eyes and mouth are associated with sun exposure," she tells WebMD. "[These] include all the changes you'd expect -- wrinkling, brown spots, dryness -- and they all respond well to laser resurfacing." Kauvar is associate director of the Laser & Skin Center of New York and is a clinical associate professor of New York University.

Unwanted, excess hair is a concern for men and women, particularly among ethnic populations. Recently, laser improvements have made it possible to effectively treat patients with darker skin types, such as African-American, Native American, and Asian patients.

"Everybody has the right to be treated for cosmetic reasons," Eliot F. Battle Jr., MD, tells WebMD. "Now, lasers are being introduced to a population that needs the benefits but has been ignored." He stresses that it's important to choose a clinician who is knowledgeable in the use of new lasers for ethnic skin types. Battle is with the department of dermatology at Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine in Boston, and the Harvard Medical School.